The 2014 Leadership Vance class, sponsored by the Henderson-Vance Chamber of Commerce and Leadership Vance Alumni embarked on a one day retreat to Western Vance High on Monday, March 3rd with challenges such as rock climbing, rappelling, and time “on the ropes” at Western Vance High School.
The purpose of the retreat was to provide the class participants with the opportunity to get to know one another and learn to work as a team. This year’s participants include Terrance Britten, State Farm; Ruth Brummitt, Triangle North Healthcare Board member; Pastor Ron Cava, First Baptist Church; Felicia Dunston, Wal-Mart DC; Kristi Salmons-Ellenberg, VGCC; Emilee Johnson, Maria Parham Medical Center; Joretha Johnson, Triangle North Heathcare Board Chairperson; Pastor Randy Mann, Central Baptist Church; Erin McIntyre, Maria Parham Medical Center; Mario Moore, P & G Pet Care; Pam Norwood, Magnolia Management; Pat Pearson, City of Henderson; Antonia Pedroz, Vance County DDS Director; Angela Pugh, Vance County Schools; April Scott, Boys & Girls Clubs of NC; Vanessa Shortley, The Daily Dispatch; Earl Walker, CenturyLink; and Morris White, NC Cooperative Extension, Vance County Center.
This ropes course can be seen as the ultimate group or team challenge. It was a day with a combination of both vertical challenges and horizontal challenges, constructed from cable and ropes installed above the ground and strung between steel frameworks.
From climbing to a platform 20 plus feet in the air where they attempted to jump for a trapeze bar hanging about three feet away to rock climbing a wall (about 35 feet up) to a wide beam and walk across its length (approximately 10 feet) and taking a leap of faith as they repelled down backwards to taking a ride on the zip line from one side of the gym to the other and back.
It was indeed a great opportunity for the class to learn about risk taking, their own perceived limits, how they perform under pressure, how they give and receive support from each other, and how working with others collaboratively can help an individual achieve more than they thought they could ever accomplish.
Now that the details are out of the way, let me tell you what really happened out there. Fourteen complete strangers were brought together, with most simply excited to have an extra day away from the office. No one had any expectations that 8 hours with people who had completely different backgrounds and were in completely different places in their lives would have any effect on each other. The truth is, not one of them will ever forget this moment in their lives. They each learned a lot about themselves and the way they respond to fear, pressure, influence and other factors.
It was interesting to see that each individual had their own talents and abilities that helped strengthen the bond of the team that they have now become. They shared stories, developed memories, and most of all, developed relationships. They all used their individual attributes to create a team today, they used that team to help build up themselves and overcome their own personal fears.
Leadership Vance is designed to identify and bring together men and women of the area who seek the opportunity to expand their involvement in the community and are willing to assume leadership positions. If you are interested in exploring challenges, establishing new relationships and discovering your potential to making a difference then take the leadership opportunity next year with Leadership Vance. Contact Annette Roberson at the Henderson-Vance Chamber at 252/438-8414.